Airlangga Compares RI-Singapore Subsea Cable to Jakarta-Bogor: 'No Traffic Jams on This Digital Highway'

The Nongsa-Changi (NCC) subsea cable system has officially commenced operations. The infrastructure, which connects Indonesia via Batam to Singapore, spans approximately 50 kilometres. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto compared the length of the infrastructure to the distance between Jakarta and Bogor, which is also 50 km. He noted a key difference, as the NCC can be traversed in 0.2 milliseconds. “Imagine the same distance from Jakarta to Bogor for 50 kilometres, it takes more than an hour due to traffic jams. There are no traffic jams on this digital highway. So, congratulations!” said Airlangga at the Nongsa Changi Landing Ceremony on Monday. He described the infrastructure, which has a capacity of more than 1.6 petabytes, as extraordinary. According to Airlangga, the NCC serves as the physical foundation of a new digital corridor. He further stated that the celebration was not just about a connecting cable, but also about celebrating a stronger digital connection between two neighbouring countries. “Let us build this digital corridor, not only with cables and data, but with a partnership of mutual trust,” he explained. At the same event, Gan Kim Yong, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, said the Nongsa-Changi submarine cable is proof of the close relationship between the two countries. Gan explained that this infrastructure will bring more opportunities for Singapore and Indonesia, as well as the ASEAN region, particularly with the signing of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement later this year. It is also hoped that it will open up opportunities for companies from both countries to collaborate, including enabling citizens to gain new skills and experiences. “Ultimately, economic cooperation brings value through the capabilities we build, the businesses we develop, and the opportunities we create for our people,” Gan stated.